Selenium utilization during human lactation by use of stable-isotope tracers

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 52; no. 4; pp. 621 - 627
• Main Authors: Mangels, AR, Moser-Veillon, PB, Patterson, KY, Veillon, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01.10.1990; American Society for Clinical Nutrition
• Subjects: ABSORCION DE SUBSTANCIAS NUTRITIVAS; ABSORCION DIGESTIVA; Absorption; ABSORPTION DE SUBSTANCES NUTRITIVES; ABSORPTION DIGESTIVE; Adult; balance studies; Biological and medical sciences; breast milk; Calcium Isotopes; Chromium Isotopes; diagnostic use; Female; FEMME; FISIOLOGIA DE LA NUTRICION; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; human lactation; Humans; intestinal absorption; ISOTOPE RADIOACTIF; Isotopes; LACTACION; lactating women; LACTATION; Lactation - metabolism; LAIT HUMAIN; LECHE HUMANA; metabolism; METHIONINE; METIONINA; Mother. Fetoplacental unit. Mammary gland. Milk; MUJERES; nutrient intake; nutrition physiology; pharmacokinetics; PHYSIOLOGIE DE LA NUTRITION; Postpartum Period; Postpartum Period - metabolism; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Parturition. Lactation; RADIOISOTOPOS; SELENIO; SELENIUM; Selenium - pharmacokinetics; selenomethionine; stable isotopes; Vertebrates: reproduction; Human; Exploration; Female; Selenium; Breast feeding; Metabolism; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/52.4.621

We examined utilization of selenomethionine (SeMet) and selenite in six lactating (L) and six nonlactating (NL) women, 2–3 mo postpartum, and seven never-pregnant (NP) women by use of stable-isotope tracers. All groups had similar selenium status at the start of the study. Significantly more selenium from SeMet than from selenite was absorbed and appeared in plasma in all groups. Milk contained more selenium from apparently absorbed SeMet than from selenite. More selenium from apparently absorbed selenite than from SeMet appeared in urine of NP and NL subjects whereas L subjects had approximately the same amount of selenium from apparently absorbed selenite and SeMet in their urine. All groups retained significantly more selenium from SeMet than from selenite; L women retained more selenium from selenite than did the other two groups. Absorption and retention of selenium from SeMet in L women did not appear to be significantly different from that in other women, suggesting that selenium requirements during lactation are increased mainly because of milk losses.